Teuscher Dental ExcellenceAppointments: (815) 394-1222

Michael Teuscher D.D.S.

Teuscher Dental Excellence

At Teuscher Dental Excellence, we accept several types of dental insurance. With the proper information, Dr. Teuscher and his staff will be happy to file your insurance claim for you. We strive to make the insurance paperwork process as simple and streamlined as possible. You are only personally responsible for the co-pay or deductible amount.

Trusted Rockford area TMJ/TMD dentist Dr. Michael Teuscher can help you live pain-free again. If your life is disrupted by head, neck or facial pain, we can evaluate you for temporomandibular joint disorder, and provide treatment for the underlying jaw and joint problems.

Let our team of highly skilled professionals provide treatment that brings relief from the pain. There's no need to suffer any longer.

If you prefer home teeth whitening for convenience, set up an appointment with Michael Teuscher, D.D.S. at his practice in the Rockford, IL area. You'll be able to whiten your teeth in the privacy of your home, and on your own schedule, even while you watch television or read a book. You'll be very pleased with the results of Dr. Teuscher's natural home tooth whitening process.

If you're looking for a more pleasing, silver-free smile, you'll want Rockford area dentist Dr. Michael Teuscher to replace your amalgam fillings with natural-looking composite fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are thought to be safer and more attractive than older silver amalgam fillings. Dr. Teuscher will precisely match your new tooth-colored composite fillings with the natural color of your teeth, providing you with virtually invisible fillings.

Lake Dental CareAppointments: (312) 642-5253

Donald Bennet D.D.S.

Lake Dental Care

If you have unhealthy gums, it's important to seek treatment soon. Your bleeding gums could be warning you of future tooth loss or even the potential for stroke and heart disease. Schedule a periodontal assessment with Chicago area gum disease dentist Dr. Donald Bennet today. It's one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family.

Sleep dentistry offers a relaxing and virtually pain-free dental experience. You'll have little or no memory of the entire visit. If you would you like to experience quality dental care without feeling nervous or uncomfortable, sleep dentistry may be right for you.

Would you like your smile to be a bit brighter than it is right now? We can make it happen at Lake Dental Care, with professional tooth whitening for brighter natural looking teeth. Dr. Donald Bennet's Chicago, IL area office can effectively lighten your stained or discolored tooth enamel. Whiter teeth not only look great, they improve your self-confidence.

If you want a gorgeous smile that turns heads, you may want to learn about the range of dental services offered at Lake Dental Care. Chicago area cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Bennet is dedicated to producing quality results and beautiful smiles.

Donald Bennet, D.D.S., in the Chicago area accepts Aetna Dental® insurance. At Lake Dental Care, our friendly team will be happy to file your insurance claim for you.

We want to make your dental treatment as affordable for you as possible. Your long term oral health is our primary concern.

The False Teeth Shut-In

Are you a denture wearer who's afraid to be seen in public because your denture is unattractive? Do you find yourself eating alone because you can't eat foods your friends eat? Do you wear your partial dentures in your pocket?

Prosthodontics wearers, without knowing it, can become dental "shut-ins." They begin, subtly, to reorient their lifestyle around loose dentures. When false teeth don't look or function properly, some people withdraw from their social lives and suffer depression and diminished self-esteem. Some even become recluses.

Tale of a shut-in

One prosthodontics patient - a truck driver - couldn't eat properly with his cheap dentures. At truck stops, he would take his food back to his truck and eat alone. He gave up his only social activity on the road - swapping stories with other drivers over a meal. For two years, he was a prisoner in his own truck.

But many people can reverse this situation. When false teeth look and feel right, a denture wearer's whole mental outlook can brighten.

Eating gives pleasure and a feeling of security learned from early feeding experiences. It's an important part of most social occasions. When a person controls the quality and quantity of his food, he's able to achieve this sense of security and a feeling of self-esteem.

So let's start fresh.

There's no need to feel unattractive or live in fear of a denture faux pas in the company of friends and family. Your dentist can help you regain function, comfort, and a natural appearance by replacing or refitting your denture. A well-fitting denture is a small sort of miracle, but one that works wonders for your self-esteem. Don't be a shut-in. Call your prosthodontist, and start smiling again.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Learn About Conventional Over-Denture

A conventional over-denture rests over some healthy natural tooth roots. This approach was first reported in 1861. To understand this method, it is necessary to review some facts.

An Overview of Alveolar Ridge Dynamics

Maintaining a denture on the jawbone ridge (called alveolar ridge) is essential to prevent it from becoming loose during eating, speaking, and other activities.

Preserving the alveolar ridge facilitates denture stability.

The body tends to conserve energy and nutrients by maintaining only structures with apparent immediate value. A typical example is the bulk reduction of a broken leg held immobile by a full-leg cast for a month or more.

The body recognizes that the only one purpose for alveolar bone is to hold tooth roots.

Alveolar bone no longer supporting a tooth root is removed, or literally dissolved away, by the body. This is called resorption, or simply shrinkage.

Resorption progresses at varying rates in the same person at different times, and at different rates between different people. Resorption progresses rapidly within the first year of losing a tooth, after which time, the rate progresses at a slower pace.

From this overview, if the maximum amount of alveolar ridge is to be maintained, then preserving the maximum number of periodontally healthy tooth roots should achieve that end.

Preserving the Sensation of Having Teeth

Studies demonstrate that even though only roots are preserved, and a denture covers them, a patient still has sensory input sensations similar to that experienced with teeth, as opposed to individuals with conventional dentures and no preserved roots. Over-denture patients also appear to have a more natural perceived directional sense in their chewing activities. In other words, many patients relate that they still feel like they have teeth -- a positive comment.

Underlying Philosophy of the Conventional Over-Denture

If a patient's treatment plan to have a denture, and the roots of some remaining teeth are supported in healthy alveolar bone, then a conventional over-denture is a viable consideration.

However, only a licensed dentist can determine if a conventional over-denture is a suitable consideration for a certain person, after a comprehensive examination.

Some Characteristics of a Conventional Over-Denture

Most of a tooth crown (that part of the tooth above the gums) is removed. This often necessitates root canal therapy if not already done.

The remaining tooth, projecting above the gum, is rounded and usually covered with a similarly shaped artificial crown-like covering.

Various configurations and extensions may be built onto some retained roots. In those cases, that portion of the denture overlying these configurations is modified to contain attachments that clip onto a framework or receive the individual extensions. In addition to preserving alveolar bone and sensory input, the denture is held securely in place, but may be comfortably and easily removed for cleaning.

Advantages of a Conventional Over-Denture

Feels more like having teeth

More retentive in many cases

Helps reduce shrinkage of surrounding bone

Reduces pressure to portions of the alveolar ridge

Positive psychological advantage of still having teeth

Disadvantages of a Conventional Over-Denture

Scrupulous oral hygiene is essential in order to prevent decay and gum disease

The over-denture may feel bulkier than a conventional denture

Frequent maintenance examinations are necessary

Generally, this is a more expensive approach than a conventional denture

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.